Handwashing and severe skin condition

[Crunchymum]

Contact dermatitis and psoriasis (me) and eczema (DC1)

Are disposable gloves our only option?

We handwash normally after loo / around food prep and when we get in but other than that we limit due to being in absolute agony.

Obviously we want to observe good hand hygiene at the moment!!!

Any ideas / suggestions

(We have all the lotions and potions)

You shouldn't need to wash your hands any more than you already are.

Just follow the advice and be wary of touching your face, when out and about

Can you try something like Dermol lotion..i think its on prescription. What lotions do you use now.

I heard this question asked on the radio and the answer was to wash with emollient I think. (I think it was radio 4 any questions or something like that, perhaps midweek) But wearing gloves out and about might help too?

Could you both just wear normal gloves when out and about. I do anyway in winter after catching flu a few years ago, I always wear leather gloves which can be cleaned, particularly when using shopping trolleys, pinpads etc plus it's still very cold here so I'd be wearing them anyway but yes if gloves not an option then just being conscious of not touching your face if you haven't washed your hands recently.

I have really bad eczema and my hands are really really cracked, it is a nightmare and painful but I'm still washing my hands as much as possible. But I'm also applying my cream so much more throughout the day (after nearly every wash!)

On prescription: (between us)

• 4 types of steroids (for flare ups)
• Dermol 500 for bathing
• Zeroderm ointment and cream
• zerocream
• Cetraban

Plus all various OTC stuff

• Childs Farm
• Aveeno
• E45

We are a family of bad skin

Incidentally, I've never noticed before how often I touch my face!!!! Trying hard to retrain myself.

Oh my life my hands are in so much pain! Really having to force myself to keep washing so much but I know I should

What about acqeous cream. Very cheap emollient and soap substitute.

Yep. I heard the same phone in on radio 4. Dr Sarah Jarvis said to wash with diluted emollient cream. Take some in a small bottle out and about with you she recommended.

We have leather gloves but unfortunately - at this time of year - most time is spent inside.

I work with children so wash my hands constantly throughout the day. (After wiping noses, changing nappies, serving food etc.) I also have eczema and my hands are constantly ripped to shreds and bleeding. I moisturised often but it doesn't help much. Not sure what can be done though as I refuse to not wash my hands!

Haven't heard about diluted emollient? Does it actually clean you enough?

Have a young toddler in nappies so yeah add another 5 or so essential hand washes to my daily quota (forgot about that!!)

I've had to buy Dermol handwash. It looks like liquid soap. It cost me about six pounds over the counter but it's stopped me wincing when I wash my hands. They feel like old boots and have little cuts which bleed. I think it's down to the antibac hand gel (62%) I've been using during my commute and when I return to my desk at work after the loo (have to touch a few doors after handwashing).

Look up NHS Emollients website. Sorry but cant link it. Also maybe use cotton gloves when youre out.

You may have tried this so apologies if so (used to annoy me so much when people swore by stuff I knew made my hands flare up) but Simple handwash is the only thing I can use regularly. If I forget to take it into work my hands are cracked and bleeding by the end of the day.
Same with Simple soap.

I’ve just bought a big supply of white cotton gloves so I can put cream on and gloves on top for a while . I still take them off now and then, to wash hands etc, then try and stick some Epaderm or Diprobase on and re-cover with the gloves . My right hand fingers are really cracked and sore at the moment.

Just as effective according to the NHS

www.nhs.uk/conditions/emollients/

Reading with interest as applies to me